87 911 recent top end rebuild smoke

[urseppos]

Hello Pelicans,

I just purchased an 87 911 w/a recent top end that was completed in Sept 2011. I paid top dollar for this car as she is quite nice and I am now beginning to worry due to the smoke upon startup.

She smokes upon start up but didn't when I first got her about 6 weeks ago. I can smell the fumes when I drive her and I figured w/a recent top end that this should not be happening. She doesn't appear to have a leak that I can see and I make sure that she has enough but not too much oil in her. The smoke doesn't appear to be blue but not totally sure.

I am going to contact the shop that did the work in Valdosta, Georgia as they said that they would take care of any issues regarding their work.

Any advice & or suggestions would be kindly received.


Cheers,

A Pelican

PS Not badmouthing anyone here just trying to get some clarity

[E Sully]

What was, or is your break in procedure? How much mileage since rebuild, compression numbers on all six cylinders, and do a leak down test. Were the cylinders Alusil or Nikasil, as Alusil may have problems with new rings. What does the rebuild sheet show for parts replaced?

[urseppos]

Do not have any answers for you at present as I'm away from car & paperwork until tomorrow morning. I will respond asap.

Do I need to be overly concerned because I AM OVERLY CONCERNED ?

Hate to think I would have to sink more serious money into a car I just bought & paid top dollero for :/

Cheers,

[johnsjmc]

It may be something as simple as too much oil in the engine. My various Porsches liked an oil level about 1/2 way down on the stick. Check when hot and at idle.

[timchar]

How long does smoke last after start up? Any smoke when driving? Lots of condensation this time if year... I have about 30 k on rebuild and occasionally see smoke on start up. Going to adjust valves, however uses absolutely no oil. I have taken the advice of some here and let car idle 20-30 seconds before turning off, seems to help. Don't panick yet...Tim

[john walker's workshop]

if it doesn't puff a little smoke on startup once in a while, it's not a 911. see what the consumption is after 1000 miles. remember where the oil was on the dipstick so you can be accurate. hot, at idle, level surface.

[Joe Bob]

How long between start ups?

[urseppos]

I drive the car quite frequently so she doesn't sit too long between startup's. She does backfire a little here and there, mostly on deceleration.

I will get more info as I get my paperwork in front of me and will drive her today as well to get a better idea of what is actually going on.

[turbo3six]

Have you considered taking it to another Porsche tech for an assessment?
Where are you in FL?

[urseppos]

I'm in Tarpon Springs and have her booked in for this coming Monday.

She smoked on startup this morning & smoked for about a couple of minutes & then all was ok. Although I can smell exhaust fumes when I am pulling up to a traffic light or stop sign. Very frustrating not knowing what is going on. Only about 1200 miles since top end rebuild.

[polizei]

Do you have receipts from the rebuild? Does it show that a valve job was performed? How much oil have added?

[56 nomad]

Hello,

sounds like not much to worry about if the shop will cover it...things i would check have been mentioned overfill on oil etc. are you using oil, how much any drips on the heat exchangers as you mentioned smelling the exhaust, when this happens are you noticing smoke from the tailpipe or just the smell of the burnt oil (thats why i mentioned checking for that drip).
could be just not broken in yet...in any case if the hop finds an issue and they will stand behind it no worries. if its not making strange noises i would drive it for awhile ( not revving the h@#$ out of it but "varying" the rpms and see what happens.
i always get a little smoke on start up does not worry me .
JM2C, ben

[CaptainCalf]

Ask the shop if they reringed it cuz they couldda inadvertently oriented one or more of the oil srcrapper rings down instead of up which could allow oil to run past the rings into the combustiion chamber...very embarrassing for any wrench who may have done that

[urseppos]

Shop said if the prob's are due to their work they would definitely cover it.

She is using up oil but not certain as to how much as I was not paying attention to it. I guess I figured that she had a recent top end and all would be ok. I did top her up the other day w/a quart of Castrol GTX but that did not reach the fill level on the dipstick.

The Top End parts were as follows;

set piston rings
gasket set
valve guides
intake valve
ex valve
sealant
head studs
brass exhaust nuts
oil
oil filter
oil thermostat o ring
valve cover nuts
washers
Castrol oil

Machine work;

Rolands cyi head repair
installed guides
cut three angle seats
cleaned ports

Replaced front & rear cr seals

Replaced oil pressure switch

Replaced distributor cap & rotor

Replaced pilot bearing

Replaced oil hoses & oil return tubes

All this work was done at 78,495 miles and she presently has 81,091 miles (as of today)

[Flat Six]

Originally Posted by urseppos

I did top her up the other day w/a quart of Castrol GTX but that did not reach the fill level on the dipstick.

Potential overfill as johnsjmc suspected.

Apologies if you already know this, but reading the dipstick is only accurate when: 1) the engine oil is up to operating temp [thermostat open]; 2) engine is idling; and 3) car is on a level surface.

If you topped up the oil based on reading the dipstick when the engine was in any other operating condition, you likely overfilled. Causes symptoms exactly as you describe. A quick search of the forum reveals this is not an uncommon error, but thankfully -- if this is indeed the cause -- a relatively inexpensive one.

There are lots more expensive errors to make . . .

Good luck; hope this helps.

[bell]

And keep in mind that an idling 911 can take nearly a half hour to get fully up to temp........so drive it good then let it idle and check the level with the engine running....

[schulr]

would be interested if you can find out the cost for what was done.

Bob

[urseppos]

Bob,

If your interested in the cost of the top end, it was $6,200 not including the oil tubes, cap & rotor, machine work & seals. The total of what I have listed above comes to around $7,300. Hope this helps.


Cheers,

Mikki

[db_cooper]

Originally Posted by bell

And keep in mind that an idling 911 can take nearly a half hour to get fully up to temp........so drive it good then let it idle and check the level with the engine running....

And..don't fill the tank to the max. mark. Get it halfway between the marks and monitor the oil usage from there. The quart or so less will not hurt the engine. You have ten quarts or more in there. Don't worry.

Be sure and check the oil level at the same temperature (as close as you can get) at idle..each time.

The engines can and do blow off surplus oil back into the intake manifold..and make the car smoke.

It has been only 2500 miles since the build. Has the oil been changed? Should have been done at 500/1000 miles after the work.

[Joe Bob]

High dollar repair.....definitely no cash discount there....